The bag was pulled from my head... My hands still bound, as I lay in the dirt..Two hooded men stood over me, staring down at me, a look of disapproval in there eyes. They bore odd Stars on there rustic, neutral coloured armour; for the most part, made of fabrics and leathers. There weapons in ornately decorated scabbards, and there bows crafted with such precision, they were akin to Elven make.. "Where these..." Surely not, they couldn't be Rangers... The men had called them Wardens. Who were they! The two men sat me upright, in front of a a low, but warm fire, it's orange glow making there faces visible for the very first time... They did indeed look akin to the Rangers I had, had dealing with in the past...
"Make yourself comfortable... You'll be waiting here a while". One of the men said to me... Like I had a choice. "Our Captain will be back shortly, he would speak with you", said the other calmly. Now I was all but certain these folk were Rangers... I'd been assisting the enemy... What had I done? I feeling of shame, guilt and disgust washed over me. An hour or so passed in silence, the two men sat either side of me, the one to my left poking the embers of the fire, with a stick, to keep the low burning fire going, the other, sat carving a piece of wood, with a small knife. I could not see the design of what he was making, but, from a distance, it seemed he was carving some sort of amulet.. Then I heard a twig snap, some two hundred yards out of the small camp.
In short order, four men arrived, all dressed in muted browns and greens, bearing the same stars as the two who had brought me here, one of them must have been the Captain, I held my head aloft scanning them.. I saw one approach the fire, and throw in an an assortment of Amulets and other bits of miscellaneous jewelry.. They looked like the ones the Enemy had been wearing. He then fixed his gaze upon me.. "So... What do we do with you? Eh fellow"? He approached me, his gaze fixed on mine, and took a knee beside me. His voice grew more serious as he spoke to me now.. "Aiding the Enemy, now that's a serious charge friend.. Punishable by death". I swallowed hard, and a single tear rolled down my cheek... "I'm sorry.. I had no idea who they were.." I said, fighting back tears..
The man grabbed me by my hair, and pulled my head back, leaving my throat wide open... I felt I knew what was coming.. Instead he looked into my eyes... "Eranhost... Cut him loose, he's not lying". One of the Rangers, the one who had been carving an Amulet, approached, knife still drawn, reluctantly, he cut my bindings, but, help a firm grip on my shoulder, forcing me to stay seated. "Forgive us friend.. We must be certain you know the severity of your crimes, even though you were a victim of foolishness here", spoke the Captain, his back turned on me. He cast down his hood, as he turned to me.. The man was handsome.. Deep green eyes and long, dark curls abundant on his head.
"You were leading a party of evil Men, servants of Angmar on our trail friend.. How do you plead"? He said, calmly, walking towards me again. "Not Guilty"! I swallowed hard, and thought about it.."Well... I suppose I am Guilty, but, I didn't intend to! I was deceived". The Ranger holding me scoffed. The Captain glared at him angrily, before placing a calm hand on my shoulder.. "Deception is the greatest weapon our Enemy holds". He gave some sort of hand signal to the Rangers, they all set about dismantling the camp, and extinguishing the flames. "Come friend, you may walk with us a while, and we shall explain to you, more of what has happened". He put an arm around my shoulder, and led me into the forest... "My name friend, is Celedier".
